Cosvsbined-gas and electric generator plant



(NN Model.)

. S. H. SHORT.. COMBINED GAS AND ELECTRIC GENERATOR PLANT.

Pa'tent-ed Nouan-1897.

| Illll Niinn Irains Aitana* FFME@ SIDNEY H. SHORT, OFl CLEVELAND, GHIO.

COMBlNED-GAS AND ELECTREC GENERATOR PLANT.,

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,435, dated November 30, 1897. Application filed May 4, 1896. Serial No. 690,221. (No model.)

Ohio, have invented a new and useful Combined Gas'an'd Electric Generation Plant, of which the lfollowing is a specification,

This invention relates to a combined gas and electric generation plant. l

In my application, Serial No. 586,798, I have set forth and described an invention in method of and means for electric generation, wherein carbon, coal, or carbonaceous material is subjected to the action of an electrolyte which 1,5 is capable of receiving oxygen andtrans.-

Aferring the saine electrochemieally to the carbon, coal, or carbonaceous material to effect an oxidation thereof, such action resulting in the generation of an electric current. I have eo conceived thatjthis method of electric generation may be most economically and eiiciently carried into practical commercial effect in connection and conjunction with a gas-generating plant, and this conception forms the L 5 basis for the present invention.

' Theinvention,therefore,consists,substan tially, in the construction, arrangement, location, combination, and method of operation, all as will be more `fully hereinafter Cet forth,

3o shown in the accompanying drawings, and

finally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows an illustrativeform of apparatus adapted for the pur- 3 5 poses of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional detail view of the cokeh'older.

In' the drawings reference-sign A desig nates a suitable gas-retort adapted to receive 4o`the coal, and wherein-said coal is baked to evolve therefrom the gases, the evolved gasespassing omini the usual manner in gas plants throughI a suitable connection B to a purifier O, which maybe of vthe usual or any suitable construction and arrangement,

lthence throughcoinection D to the servicemain F or to the reservoir G, or toboth, in the usual or any convenient manner;

H designates the furnace for supplying the 5o requisite heat for baking the coal, which is introduced into the retort A. The `coal may be introduced into the retort A. in any suitable or convenient manner. In practice, howL ever, I prefer to employ an arrangement wherein the coal may be readily fed into the .retort A.' I have shown an illustrative form of'apparatus embodying 'this idea wherein a hopper .I is adapted to receive the coal previous to its being fed into the retort, said hop per opening at its lower end into the retort and provided with a suitable cover K at the top thereof, which cover is made removable, but which is gas-tight when securedvin its closed position. Aplunger L, having apusher end M, is arranged to travel adjacent to the lower end of the hopper J, and when actuated is adapted to feed or push the coal into the retort. The plunger er arm L may be actuated lin any convenient or desirable manner, by

hand or machinery-for instance, by means of a crank connection with a disk N, which may be rotated in any suitable manner. In order that any gas evolved from the coal in the retort may not escape through the hopper v.I it may be desirable to open communication between said hopper and the connection'B,as indicated at O.

The partsso far described may be of an y usual, convenient, or ordinary lconstruction of gas plant, and I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the specific construction, location, or details of arrangement thereof. i

I n my said prior application I have described that the process of generating electricity by subjecting the carbon to the electrochemical action of an electrolyte capable of receiving oxygen and of transferring the same to the carbon to `effect an oxidation thereof is bestr effected under the iniiuenoe of heat, the electrolyte being maintained, preferably, in a molten condition, and better resuits being obtained when the apparatus is heated. In the present invention, therefore, Iarrange the carbonholdcr I), which forms the positive element of the cell, but the negative pole of the. couple, -adjacent to and in connection with the gas-retort A, and preferably at the farther end thereof with reference to the hopper J, in order that the residue from the gas-retort, after all thegas for illuminat- IOO ing or other purposes hasbeen bakedout of or evolved from the original coal, thereby leaving the same in the form of coke, maybe pushed by thc'plunger L and its plunger-rod lli and the fresh coal from the retort into the carbon-holder of the electric generating plantwhilc still in its heated condition, it being understood 'that when the carbon is maintained in a heated condition the nascent oxy gen of the electrolyte or resulting from the electrochemical action of the electrolyte will attack the carbon more vigorously and freely, i

and hence result in a more efficient electric generation. Therefore in the present invention fast new coal is supplied io theV K able conducting material and of such a nature as not to he act-ed upon by the electror lyte. l have found iron to he suitaole material for this purpose, and the said holder P should be so constructed as to permit the clec' t-rolytc to gain access to the carbon conta-ined therein. This can be effected suitably perforating the hottoin ofsaid holder. necessary oxygen which is required to effect an oxidation of the carbon or coke in the holder l3 is supplied to the electrolyte in any suitable or convenient manner. In the form I of apparatus shown l provide an air.-pump R i201' forcing a current of air through connection S into the ncgirtive element 'll of the cell, and from which, through electrochemicalaction, the oxygen is transferred through the electrolyte Q, to the coke contained inr the holder l?, where it attacks and oxidizes such coke, the products of such oxidatiini passing off inthe torni of frases, and the result of such oxidation is the production of a current of electricity, the positive pole of the couple being connected electrically to the negative element T, as indicated at Y.

As described in my prior application, the

negative element '.i is composed of au oxidized` or oxidizablc material-such, for instance, as

lead.

A convenient method of maintaining the negative element T of the cell and the elec- Y trolyte Q and the coke contained in the holder l? at the 'required degrecof temperature to secure the best possible results and in the most eiiicicnt and economical manner, the products of combustion from the furnace H, after performing the work of baking,` the coal. in retort A, pass through connection 'W to the resselA, intowhieh the negative clement 'ofthe celland the electrolyte Q are contained,

and maintains the same at the proper or required degree of temperature.

-lhecoke-holdcr is of suitable conducting inaterlaL-say, for instance, iron-and the electrolyte mayY gain access to the coke con.-

The

tained in said holder through suitable perforations tindicated at A2) in the bottom thereof, or, if desired, and as clearly .shown in lfigs. l and 2, the bottom part of said holder ma)I comprise the portion j* of suitable porous material, through which the electrolyte may pass, as will be clearly understood.

It will be understood that the eolie-holder l) of the electric generation plant should be suitably insulated, as indicated al. il', from the gas-retort A in order to prevent shortcir- Quitting;` ofthe current generatori,

It will be understood, of course, that, if rcquired, Several electric generation-(arlls ma y be employed in connection with each rasectort should it be found that one such cell will not consume or utilize continuouslyy the coke product'of such retort. f

7rom the foregoing description it will be seen that L -combine a Aras-general lui;` plant with an electric generating' plant wherein the generated may be utilized fo any purpose for which the gas is adapted, and the electric current generated may in similar manner be utilized for a'ny purpose for which it is adapted. lt will also he seen' that l reduce the cost of electric generation to the lowest possible point by utilizing` the coke wnile in its heated condition for thc electric generation and by utilizingr the heat produ ots required for the lfas generation to maintain the electric generation cell or cells at thc rcqni-red degree of temperature 'for the most effective results.

It will be understood that theprinciples of my invention may be embodied and carried out in a wide variety of specific forms and arrangement of apparatus without departing from thc spirit or scope ot' my invention. I do not desire, therefore, io he limited or rc` stricted to the forms of apparatus shown and described; but,

Having now stated the objectand nature of my invention andan operative form of apparatus embodying the same, and havingr explained the purpose, function, and mode of operation thereof, what I' claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters latent of the United States,

l. ln a combined gas and4 electric generation plant, a gas-retort, means for heating,` the same, a coke-holder adapted to receive thc colte from seid retort, a material electronegative with respect to such coke, an electrolyte intervening between said clcctroncgativc material and the coke, means for supplying oxygen to said electrolyteY through said electronegativeV material, and means whereby the electrolyte and the electroncgative material are heatcdby the products ot' combustion of said retort-heating means, as and for the purpose set forth.

In a combined gas and electric generation plant, a gas-retort, means for heating the sam-e, a coke-holder communicating with but f 4insulated from said retort. an electrolyte in IIO which said carbon-holder isv immersed, a naa-' 4 terial electronegative with respect to the coke, and means for heating the said eleetronegative material and electrolyte by the products 5 of)combustion of saidretortdieating means, as and for the purpose setforth.

3; In a combined 'gas and electric -gene ra` tion plant, a gas-retort, means lfor heating the same,means arranged to receive the coke prod- 1o uct. therefrom While' in itsheated condition,

A a lead electrode, -anelectrolyte in which said electrode and also said coke are immersed, means for` subjecting said electrolyte to the trolyte through said lead electrode, as 4and for the purpose set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this4 27th day of April, 1896.

. SIDNEY H. SHORT. Witnesses: I

R. T. BONE, M. A. yKENSmoslim. 

